If you’re anything like us, we see an interesting headline during our daily scroll—pause to read it—but then keep scrolling without reading the actual story. So at the end of each week, we’re rounding up all the buzziest, news-worthy headlines you might have missed. Think of it like the “saved” feature on Instagram but for news instead of aesthetically pleasing photos. Nicki Minaj announces the launch of her very own record label, Miley Cyrus commences an early summer vacation for all, and Avril Lavigne has a new sk8er boi—this is what you missed.

#1

Does Avril Lavigne Have A New Sk8er Boi?
Sometimes when I get too worked up overthinking, I like to remind myself that we’re all just living in a simulation. The possibility of that being factual? 50/50. But it feels good to have a blanket statement that can act as a therapy dupe to help me gain perspective so, hey, I’ll take it! This week, however, that scales tipped, with news of Avril Lavigne and Tyga reportedly dating. The duo was spotted leaving together after dinner at the celeb-fav Nobu restaurant in LA and were photographed hugging each other. People Magazine claimed that Lavigne and Tyga are “genuinely friends and nothing more,” which could have been the case but they were seen publicly together again a week later at Leonardo DiCaprio’s party at KuKu in Paris and were seen holding hands and sharing kisses at a Paris Fashion Week party. The duo seems to be more than just “genuine friends” and Derek Ryan Smith, more commonly known as Mod Sun, would agree. He proposed to Avril almost a year ago and apparently had no idea that their engagement is called off and that he and Lavigne are broken up, he had to learn it like the rest of us. As far as he knew, he and Lavigne were “together and engaged as of 3 days ago, when he left for tour, so if anything changed, that’s news to him,” said his reps to multiple publications. Devastated, he turned to Instagram to share a carousel with the caption “In 1 week my entire life completely changed … I just know there’s a plan for it all. I’ll keep my head up + always listen to my heart, even when it feels broken.” This situation is really as Lavigne’s song suggests—complicated. I’m still hung on the fact that Tyga and Lavigne are hanging out. It’s like my 12-year-old self in an extreme side part and knuckle gloves resurrecting and ganging up with my 17-year-old self in all-over logo tees to put the current me in a chokehold. But love is love, and a song from the new-found couple will be the most fire—perhaps the perfect bgm for this giant simulation we live in.

#2

Miley Cyrus Inspires Us To Book A Trip With ‘Endless Summer Vacation’
Summer has begun early, with Miley Cyrus commencing an endless vacation summer for all. Featuring her No. 1 song “Flowers”, Miley Cyrus has released her eighth studio LP Endless Summer Vacation, marking her transformation from Disney child star to the well-established and very adult legend she’s always strived to be. Her new album was crafted with a repertoire of illustrious collaborators including Brani Carlile, Sia, James Blake, Mike Will Made-It, and Harmony Korine. The earlier half of the album, which Miley says loosely represents daytime, sounds to be in her familiar musical territory. Opening with runaway success “Flowers”, which finds Miley finding her footing again post-breakup, then snowballs into a messier reckoning of the process throughout the album’s songs. Dreamy “Rose Colored Lenses”, featuring Sia, one of her six songs co-written with Harry Styles, is an upbeat psychedelic bop that reflects on the good-ole days of a relationship where everything is blissfully perfect and is reminiscent of something from Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Pets, her experimental 2015 album made with The Flaming Lips. In contrast, country-steeped “Thousand Miles” exhibits her powerful throaty vocals and features singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile. Whereas the ballad “Jaded” holds the essence of ‘90s alt-rock anthems and flexes her strong vocal range, telling a story of regret and missed opportunities. The album shifts mid-way to what Miley says represents night—though it isn’t explicitly obvious—with “Headstand”, a sharp turn into hyper-pop-synth-wave. Endless Summer Vacation is an elaborate genre-bending project that somehow still feels quintessential Miley. In addition to the release of the album, Miley Cyrus released her official music video for her infectious single “River”, which she has described as a “dancefloor banger”. The black-and-white video opens with Miley dancing solo, flashing lights surrounding her, until its brash cut to her being surrounded by shirtless men—what a slay, by the way—as water falls down on them to the increasingly intensifying beat. Accompanying this comprehensive album release is the 42-minute special Miley Cyrus: Endless Summer Vacation (Backyard Session), which is also out today on Disney+. The special celebrates her new music and will include a performance of the lead single “Flowers”—and a handful of others—filmed at the same location where she shot the music video, which just so happens to be the former home of Frank Sinatra. No big deal. Endless Summer Vacation feels like an accurate reflection of Miley Cyrus and her journey into adulthood, which we’ve all had the pleasure to witness, and who she is as an artist in 2023. It’s a good time to be a Miley Cyrus stan.

#3

Nicki Minaj Announces Launch of Record Label
Queen Nicki didn’t come to play, she came to dominate. After dropping her sizzling hot single, “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” last week, she went on the latest episode of her Queen Radio to announce the official launch of her very own record label. The news came when she told listeners that she’s been texting the co-president of Republic Records, Wendy Goldstein, and that she wants to “do it right.” She teases the roster in her label which currently includes Nana Fofie, Rico Danna, London Hill, and Tate Kobang. The latter helped write the addicting hook to her US #1 single, “Red Ruby Da Sleeze.” Speaking of Kobang’s talent, Nicki said “ Tate is one of the very best hook writers of the new generation. I almost didn’t want to tell people that, you know, I was affiliated with him because I don’t want that to affect his business. But he’s an artist, and that’s him on that hook.” Kopang’s work is an indication of the diverse range of expertise and talent under Nicki’s wings and we can expect a feast for our ears and soul. On the influence Lil Wayne had in her early music days, Nicki said “[w]hen I came in this game I didn’t have no paperwork with Lil Wayne.” “But he had us on tour, he had us in a studio, he was getting on my mixtapes,” she said, “So I understand the importance of having somebody else doing the heavy lifting for you. I understand why people are coming out and they’re so, you know, microwaveable and they’re here today and gone tomorrow because there’s no structure. There’s no real person that believes in them. That’s like, ‘Nah, I’m gonna make it my business to see you shine.’” Young Money was really THE moment for so many of us growing up and knowing Nicki never takes bs from anyone, especially from herself, turn up for the new Nicki era!

#4

Taylor Swift’s ‘All Too Well (10 Minute Version)’ Is Now A Class At Stanford University
Taylor Swift has been dubbed one of the greatest songwriters and lyricists of our time, so much so that there are Buzzfeed Who Said It: Taylor Swift or Shakespeare quizzes to show appreciation for TayTay’s underrated lyricism. If you wanted an in-depth academic dissection and literary analysis of Taylor’s work, specifically her single, “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” and accompanying music video, there is just the class for you at Stanford University in the upcoming winter quarter. According to the university’s website, each ITA 99 course offers a unique teaching of topics ranging from travel sketching to improv acting from alumni of the program. The course “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” is taught by alum Nona Hungate but this won’t be the first time Taylor Swift’s artistry becomes the topic of study at universities. Last August, the University of Texas at Austin rolled out a new liberal arts course entitled “Literary Contests and Contexts — The Taylor Swift Songbook,” where the singer-songwriter’s work was studied alongside the likes of Chaucer, Shakespeare, Wyatt, Coleridge, Keats, Dickinson, and Plath with “required texts” including four of her most recent albums. In other news, the city of Glendale, Arizona, the first stop on the pop icon’s The Eras tour has an exciting surprise to celebrate the star’s arrival. They will be temporarily changing their name to “greet every Swiftie in style,” a rep says in a press release. The name will officially be announced on March 13 and all of this is to say people can’t get enough of the intriguing mind and artistry of the legendary Taylor Swift.

#5

Metro Boomin Reportedly Sells Part Of His Catalog For Close To $70 Million
Metro Boomin wants some more and sells part of his publishing catalog to Shamrock Capital, an LA-based private-investment firm closing in on $70 million. The deal came through 3 months after the super producer’s sophomore album, HEROES & VILLAINS was dropped. The 15-track record was narrated by Morgan Freeman and featured appearances from Future, Young Thug, Don Toliver, Travis Scott, 21 Savage, John Legend, Chris Brown, Young Nudy, The Weeknd, Mustafa, Gunna, and the late Migos rapper Takeoff. Upon its December 2 release, the album debuted at No.1 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, moving 185,000 album-equivalent units in its first week. Since his rise in the Atlanta rap scene in 2010, the young producer has been credited with many notable hits, including Migos’ “Bad and Boujee,” Drake and Future’s “Jumpman,” Post Malone’s “Congratulations,” The Weekend’s “Heartless,” and 21 Savage’s “Bank Account.” He’s swept Billboard’s Top 100 chart with 99 distinct entries as a producer, including two No.1s and ten top 10s. It’s a blessing, more than numbers,” said Metro Boomin, real name Leland Tyler Wayne in a Flaunt Magazine interview, “ just to be reminded that people are enjoying the music and receiving it as I intended. I just be wanting people to fuck with the shit. I don’t care if it’s a hundred streams at a time, or a hundred million streams at a time. I just want people to fuck with it genuinely.” Shamrock Capital has been making moves in hip-hop acquisitions lately with another reported acquisition from Dr. Dre’s catalog for $200 million.